USA - Bosh, Jose pave the way for another Raptor triumph

NEW YORK (NBA) - Jose Manuel Calderon and Chris Bosh, two of the big names on show at last summer’s FIBA World Championship in Japan, had huge nights on Wednesday to fire the Toronto Raptors to their 23rd victory.

Calderon, who has taken giants strides in the past month as the starting point guard of the NBA’s lone Canadian team, poured in a career-high 24 points and dished out 11 assists while Bosh scored a game-high 34 and grabbed eight rebounds in the Raptors’ 119-109 triumph over Washington.

A member of world champions Spain, Calderon has excelled as the starting playmaker in Toronto with TJ Ford nursing an ankle injury.

Calderon was 10 of 13 from the field and four of four from the line but made his biggest impression as a playmaker, setting up his team-mates for easy shots all night.

"Jose's done a spectacular job," Bosh said. "He's getting better and better every game. It's amazing how far he has come along."

Calderon said that Bosh is deservedly the focus of the Toronto attack.

"I'm feeling really comfortable with the way we are playing," Calderon said. "We know that he is our best player, and we expect (great play) from him."

Toronto have a long way to go before securing a play-off berth but confidence is soaring with their 23-23 record. 

Their 15-7 mark at home, including 11-2 against Eastern Conference opponents, suggests they would be a very difficult team to play should they reach the post-season.

"Everyone has been saying that we are playing eight good teams (before the All-Star break)," Bosh said.

"We have to concentrate and lock in on the next seven games because we want to be in a .500 or better position at the All-Star break because after that the intensity is going to turn up."

Joe jolts Golden State

Team USA’s Joe Johnson had 33 points and seven rebounds to lead four players in double figures as the Atlanta Hawks rolled to a 115-94 victory over the Golden State Warriors.

Josh Childress had 23 points, eight rebounds and seven assists and Marvin Williams netted 17 for Atlanta, who have won four of five games.

The Hawks finished 8-7 in January - their first winning month since April 2004 - for the first time under coach Mike Woodson.

High-flying Wallace dunks Knicks hopes

Gerald Wallace put on one of the best performances in the short history of the Charlotte Bobcats.

Using his devastating athleticism, Wallace scored a franchise-record 42 points and grabbed eight rebounds as the Bobcats dug in defensively down the stretch to post a 104-87 victory over the New York Knicks.

Breaking his own record, Wallace edged his 41-point outburst vs. Atlanta on March 28, 2006, as the highest individual scoring output in the team's three-year history.

Turkey’s Turkoglu, Battie work their Magic

Hedo Turkoglu scored 17 points and Tony Battie added a season-high 15 as the Orlando Magic won for just the second time in 10 games with a 98-73 victory over the Bucks.

The Magic snapped a three-game losing skid and finished January with a 6-8 mark by defeating the Bucks, who lost for the 11th time in 13 contests since leading scorer Michael Redd was sidelined with a strained patellar tendon.

Bryant back with a vengeance

Kobe Bryant scored 43 points as the Los Angeles Lakers posted a 111-98 victory over the stumbling Boston Celtics, who matched a franchise record with their 13th straight loss.

Smush Parker added 19 points as five players scored in double figures for the Lakers, who snapped a season-high three-game losing streak.

Bryant, who missed Tuesday's 99-94 loss at New York after being suspended for throwing an elbow at Manu Ginobili in a game with San Antonio on Sunday, shot 13 of 25 from the floor, including seven of nine from the arc.

Pistons pour it on against Nets

Richard Hamilton scored 24 points and Chauncey Billups added 18 as the Detroit Pistons won their fourth straight game, 113-89, over the Nets.

The win helped Detroit improve to 34-13 against New Jersey since the 1994-95 campaign, sweeping the season series three times during that stretch.

The Pistons can complete their season series sweep of the Nets with a triumph at the Palace of Auburn Hills on March 30.

Chris Webber scored 17 points and reserve Jason Maxiell chipped in 16 for the Pistons, who made their first 27 free throws to establish a franchise record.

Detroit's previous high for consecutive foul shots made was 26, set against the Kansas City Kings on March 23, 1976.

Nets superstar Vince Carter was held to just two points in the first half for only the second time his career. He finished with 11 points.

Dirk’s free throws lift Dallas

Dirk Nowitzki scored 26 points and hauled in 11 rebounds as the Dallas Mavericks edged the Memphis Grizzlies, 95-94.

Nowitzki, who had just 10 points at the end of three quarters, shot four of seven from the floor and eight of eight from the free-throw line in the final period to help the Mavericks hold off a 20-point burst by the Grizzlies' Mike Miller in the final quarter.

After Memphis' Chucky Atkins made a jumper from the left corner to cut the deficit to 91-88 with 13 seconds remaining, Nowitzki nailed four free throws in the final moments to help Dallas withstand three-pointers by Miller and Atkins in the final five seconds.


Sixers sting Hornets

Andre Iguodala collected 22 points, nine rebounds and seven assists and Samuel Dalembert had nine points and 15 rebounds as the Philadelphia 76ers dominated the glass en route to an 89-78 victory over the Hornets, snapping their three-game winning streak.

Steven Hunter added 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Sixers, who shot just 40% (31-of-77) but out-rebounded the Hornets, 58-40, to create a bundle of second-chance points and an impressive victory.

Returning to line-up after missing 17 games with an ankle injury, Team USA guard Chris Paul scored just nine points.

Tracy McGrady carried Houston for three quarters and Luther Head hit big shots in the fourth to lead the Rockets to a 112-102 victory over the road-weary SuperSonics.

Houston led, 85-82, after three thanks to McGrady, who scored 31 of his 36 points in the first three quarters.

Head helped the Rockets pull away late and post their second four-game winning streak this month.

Marvellous Martin mashes Minnesota

Kevin Martin helped put an end to the Sacramento Kings' recent woes.

Martin scored 28 points, including the go-head jumper with 16 seconds left, as the Kings posted a 100-98 triumph over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Okur three-pointer kills off Spurs

With Carlos Boozer sidelined for the immediate future, the Utah Jazz leaned on Turkey’s Mehmet Okur to get the job done.

Okur scored 31 points including a pivotal go-ahead three-pointer and grabbed 11 rebounds as the Jazz posted a 97-93 victory over the San Antonio Spurs.

Nuggets fall under Zach attack

Zach Randolph scored 26 points and grabbed a season-high 17 rebounds as the Portland Trail Blazers posted a 100-91 triumph over the Denver Nuggets.

Portland snapped an eight-game losing streak against Denver, who lost their fourth consecutive game and played without four-time scoring champ Allen Iverson, who did not make the trip because of a sprained right ankle.

Bulls eclipsed by Livingston, Brand

Shaun Livingston scored 10 of his 14 points in the final minutes and Team USA forward Elton Brand collected 26 points and nine rebounds as the Los Angeles Clippers finished the game with a flourish en route to a 110-98 victory over the Chicago Bulls.

Tim Thomas had 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Clippers, who closed out the fourth quarter on a 14-2 run to win for the sixth game in their last seven contests.

FIBA